Buckle up, drive safe: Highway patrol troopers to be out in force this Thanksgiving weekend

A stock image shows a Utah Highway Patrol vehicle on a highway in Southern Utah | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Law enforcement officials on Utah’s interstates will be working extra shifts to curb traffic violations of drivers traveling this Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

A stock image shows a boy and his stuffed animal being safe while buckled up while traveling | Photo by Wavebreakmedia/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

Utah Highway Patrol troopers will be working more than 275 extra shifts over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a news release from the agency. Utah troopers will be specifically looking for unbuckled motorists.

“The goal of the increased enforcement is to save lives and help make sure everyone gets home safely, not just over the Thanksgiving weekend, but every day,” officials wrote on the news release.

The Utah Highway Patrol shared a story of the family of Shantel Anderson, who was involved in a crash on Interstate 15 in June. Minutes before the crash, Shantel Anderson’s son had reminded her to buckle up, officials said.

“Utah Highway Patrol troopers who responded to the crash have said the outcome would have been very different if Shantel had not been buckled up,” officials wrote on the news release.

Extra law enforcement will also be out in force south of St. George on I-15 through Nevada and California.

A combined effort on Wednesday between California Highway Patrol, Nevada Highway Patrol and Boulder City Police Department will be the “largest enforcement event in recent years to crack down on hazardous moving violations between California and Nevada,” said Jason Buratczuk public information officer and trooper for the Nevada Highway Patrol.

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About the Author

Spencer Ricks is a Seattle native who graduated from Dixie State University in 2017. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Dixie Sun News – DSU's student newspaper. He has also written for KSL.com and Seattle Met Magazine, covering everything from local politics to flash floods. Spencer joined the St. George News team as a reporter in January 2018.

The funny thing here is UDOT continues to increase the i-15 speed limit, then UHP comes out as askes people to slow down and drive 65 or slower in the rain or snow conditions…Nope, what you need to do is have MPH signs than can be changed by UDOT during bad weather, like LED MPH signage that can be changed as traffic conditions, weather conditions or accidents happen….asking people to slow down will never happen

Brilliant idea…Why make it the taxpayer’s expense? Ever hear of being a responsible, alert and safe driver? A light up MPH sign will not make them go slower any more than a stop sign makes your car stop. It’s called personal accountability and let the herd cull itself.